LONDON: Constructing on the success of its debut 12 months in 2021, Excessive E Season 2, dubbed The Race for the Planet, is ready to kick off with the Desert X Prix in NEOM on Feb. 19 and 20, whereas delivering on its total goal to deal with local weather change by means of sport.
The brand new season will start within the deserts of NEOM in northwest Saudi Arabia the place the Kingdom’s largest international mission is taking form.
NEOM’s landscapes embrace various terrains from expansive pink sands to spectacular sandstone formations and the placement is ready to be the house and office to residents from world wide. It is going to embrace hyperconnected, cognitive cities and cities, ports, and enterprise zones, analysis facilities, sports activities and leisure venues, and vacationer locations.
The megacity was chosen as a location by Excessive E not just for its picturesque desert panorama and shared values of sustainability and innovation, but in addition as a result of the sport-for-purpose championship goals to spotlight the causes of desertification, the lack of organic range, and the significance of resilience due to the impacts of local weather change.
As well as, the distinct and various desert terrain of NEOM can even guarantee it’s an all-new problem for the drivers and their ODYSSEY 21 electrical SUVs.
Excessive E had taken place in Saudi Arabia, residence of the world’s largest steady sand desert, and its AlUla area, in Season 1 for its first X Prix, which was gained by the championship’s inaugural winners, Rosberg X Racing (RXR).
Alejandro Agag, chief government officer and founding father of Excessive E, stated: “Utilizing our sport-for-purpose platform, Excessive E delivered actually ground-breaking motion in its first season, on and off the racecourse, and now we’re able to go and do all of it once more, with extra expertise and extra willpower than ever.
“Taking the championship to NEOM for our desert location shall be an thrilling second, as NEOM’s long-term plans are very a lot in step with the ethos of Excessive E – it’s making an attempt to do one thing that’s by no means been finished earlier than and comes at a time when the world wants recent considering and new options.
“As we noticed in our first-ever championship race, the Kingdom’s terrain is beautiful and unforgiving. The desertscape guarantees to be intense, and will probably be an unprecedented problem for our rivals to discover in a brand new desert terrain with hotter racing circumstances,” he added.
Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Vehicle and Motorbike Federation, and the Saudi Motorsport Co., stated: “The return of Excessive E to the Kingdom for the second 12 months in a row additional helps emphasize Saudi Arabia’s dedication to a extra sustainable future.
“Welcoming this revolutionary sequence to NEOM aligns with some of the essential targets and pillars of Imaginative and prescient 2030 in addition to the non-public aspirations of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to make the Kingdom a number one nation within the growth and promotion of different vitality sources and the preservation of the atmosphere for future generations.
“This subsequent instalment of the Excessive E race is additional proof of the Kingdom’s transformation right into a powerhouse for motorsport within the area, and the occasion going down shortly after the conclusion of one other profitable Dakar Rally at first of this 12 months additional underlines this. Moreover, we’ve got simply hosted our inaugural F1 Grand Prix on the most recent, longest, and quickest road circuit on this planet,” the prince added.
CEO of NEOM, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, stated: “NEOM has made no secret of its want to advertise sustainability and lift consciousness round a number of the world’s most urgent challenges, akin to local weather change and nature conservation.
“We really feel internet hosting an modern racing occasion akin to Excessive E in a area devoted to pioneering clear know-how and mobility options completely manifests our targets.
“In line with our strategy to encouraging expertise growth and variety, we’re delighted to welcome the drivers, each female and male, the Excessive E group, and main consultants to NEOM.
“Sport is a crucial sector for NEOM and shall be key in creating a brand new type of livability and driving financial development. Specifically, journey sport choices shall be a significant contributor to the customer economic system,” Al-Nasr added.
Groups and drivers
The ten groups and 20 drivers for the Desert X Prix are as follows:
ABT CUPRA XE – Nasser Al-Attiyah / Jutta Kleinschmidt
ACCIONA, Sainz XE Group – Carlos Sainz Snr. / Laia Sanz
Genesys Andretti United Excessive E – Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings
Chip Ganassi Racing – Kyle LeDuc / Sara Value
McLaren XE – Tanner Foust / Emma Gilmour
JBXE – Kevin Hansen / Molly Taylor
Rosberg X Racing – Johan Kristoffersson / Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky
Veloce Racing – Lance Woolridge / Christine Giampaoli Zonca (GZ)
X44 – Sebastien Loeb / Cristina Gutierrez
XITE ENERGY RACING – Oliver Bennett / Tamara Molinaro